Kidnapped (1948 film)

1948 film by William Beaudine

Kidnapped

Directed by| William Beaudine
Screenplay by| Scott Darling
Based on| Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Produced by| Lindsley Parsons
Roddy McDowall
Starring| Roddy McDowall
Sue England
Dan O'Herlihy
Cinematography| William A. Sickner
Edited by| Ace Herman
Music by| Edward J. Kay
Dave Torbett

Production
company

Lindsley Parsons Picture Corporation

Distributed by| Monogram Pictures

Release date

* November 28, 1948 (1948-11-28)

Running time

| 81 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

Kidnapped is a 1948 American historical adventure film directed by William Beaudine and starring Roddy McDowall, Sue England and Dan O'Herlihy. It is based on the 1886 novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. The former child star McDowall plays David Balfour in the story about a young man cheated out of his birthright by his wicked, covetous uncle Ebenezer (Houseley Stevenson).[1]

## Plot

[edit]

Scotland, 1751: At a stately manor near Edinburgh, the young David Balfour arrives with a sealed letter from his recently deceased father for Ebenezer, his uncle. It is meant to be delivered to a family lawyer to introduce David as the rightful heir to the property.

After slyly trying to kill his previously unknown nephew but failing, Ebenezer conspires with a sea captain, Hoseason, to take the boy hostage and sell him into slavery. A prisoner aboard ship, David soon meets Alan Breck, who, in need of rescue, now finds himself in danger of Hoseason stealing his gold and perhaps murdering him as well. David's quick intervention saves his life.

Washed up ashore after a storm, David is hidden by an innkeeper's daughter, Aileen, then begins a long and arduous journey home. With the help of Alan, he is able to coerce a confession about the kidnapping from his uncle that is overheard by the lawyer, who now knows David to be the proper heir. Hoseason, feeling betrayed, tries to kill Ebenezer in a sword fight, resulting in the deaths of both.

## Cast

[edit]

Actor | Role

|

Roddy McDowall | David Balfour
Sue England | Aileen Fairlie
Dan O'Herlihy | Alan Breck
Roland Winters | Capt. Hoseason
Jeff Corey | Shuan
Houseley Stevenson | Ebenezer
Erskine Sanford | Rankeillor
Alex Frazer | Hugh Fairlie
Winifriede McDowall | Innkeeper's Wife
Robert J. Anderson | Ransome
Janet Murdoch | Janet Clouston
Olaf Hytten | The Red Fox
Erville Alderson | Mungo
Mary Gordon | Scotswoman
Hugh O'Brian | Sailor
Eric Wilton | Rankeillor's Secretary
Jimmie Dodd | Scottish Sailor

## Production

[edit]

McDowall performed a radio version of the novel in 1946 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.[2]

In 1948 McDowall was making a series of films for Monogram Pictures on which McDowall would star and executive produce. They selected Kidnapped. Dan O'Herlihy, who had just appeared in Orson Welles' Macbeth was signed to play Alan Breck. Filming started on Santa Catalina in May 1948. The film unit used James Cagney's yacht, the Swift.[3] Studio work took place at Nassour Studios.[4]

Monogram considered making a sequel, David Balfour, also starring McDowall.[5] It was meant to follow Tuna Clipper, the next McDowall-Parsons-Monogram film.[6] However this did not eventuate.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ KIDNAPPED Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 16, Iss. 181, (Jan 1, 1949): 118.
2. ^ Hope Springs Eternal! Hopper, Hedda. The Washington Post 30 Apr 1946: 4.
3. ^ O'Herlihy to Act Breck; LaGuardia Deal Hinted Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 8 May 1948: 9.
4. ^ Tuna Fisherman Role Will Star McDowall Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 May 1948: 7.
5. ^ APPEAR IN MURDER PICTURE New York Times 22 Oct 1948: 32.
6. ^ Morros Jr., Questing McCormack Story Rights; 'David Balfour' on Slate Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 Oct 1948: 23.

## External links

[edit]

* Kidnapped at IMDb
* Kidnapped at the TCM Movie Database

* v
* t
* e

Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped

Films|

* Kidnapped (1917)
* Kidnapped (1938)
* Kidnapped (1948)
* Kidnapped (1960)
* Kidnapped (1971)
* Kidnapped (1986)
* Kidnapped (1995)

Other|

* Kidnapped (2005 TV series)
* Kidnapped (2023 play)
* Kidnapped (graphic novel)
* Catriona
* Appin Murder
* Parcel of Rogues

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by William Beaudine

1920s-30s|

* Watch Your Step (1922)
* Catch My Smoke (1922)
* Heroes of the Street (1922)
* Her Fatal Millions (1923)
* Penrod and Sam (1923)
* The Printer's Devil (1923)
* The Country Kid (1923)
* Boy of Mine (1923)
* Daring Youth (1924)
* Wandering Husbands (1924)
* Daughters of Pleasure (1924)
* A Self-Made Failure (1924)
* Cornered (1924)
* Lovers' Lane (1924) (unconfirmed)
* The Narrow Street (1925)
* A Broadway Butterfly (1925)
* How Baxter Butted In (1925)
* Little Annie Rooney (1925)
* That's My Baby (1926)
* Sparrows (1926)
* The Social Highwayman (1926)
* The Canadian (1926)
* Frisco Sally Levy (1927)
* The Life of Riley (1927)
* The Irresistible Lover (1927)
* The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris (1928)
* Heart to Heart (1928)
* Home, James (1928)
* Do Your Duty (1928)
* Give and Take (1928)
* Fugitives (1929)
* Two Weeks Off (1929)
* Hard to Get (1929)
* The Girl from Woolworth's (1929)
* Wedding Rings (1929)
* Those Who Dance (1930)
* Road to Paradise (1930)
* Father's Son (1931)
* Misbehaving Ladies (1931)
* The Lady Who Dared (1931)
* The Mad Parade (1931)
* Penrod and Sam (1931)
* Men in Her Life (1931)
* Three Wise Girls (1932)
* Make Me a Star (1932)
* The Crime of the Century (1933)
* Her Bodyguard (1933)
* The Old Fashioned Way (1934)

British films|

* Two Hearts in Harmony (1935)
* So You Won't Talk (1935)
* Dandy Dick (1935)
* Boys Will Be Boys (1935)
* Get Off My Foot (1935)
* Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk (1935)
* Where There's a Will (1936)
* Educated Evans (1936)
* It's in the Bag (1936)
* Windbag the Sailor (1936)
* Feather Your Nest (1937)
* Said O'Reilly to McNab (1937)
* Take It from Me (1937)

1930s-40s|

* Torchy Gets Her Man (1938)
* Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939)
* She Done Him Right (1940)
* Four Shall Die (1940)
* The Last Alarm (1940)
* Misbehaving Husbands (1940)
* Up Jumped the Devil (1941)
* Emergency Landing (1941)
* Mr. Washington Goes to Town (1941)
* Federal Fugitives (1941)
* Desperate Cargo (1941)
* Flying Wild (1941)
* Mr. Celebrity (1941)
* The Miracle Kid (1941)
* Blonde Comet (1941)
* Duke of the Navy (1942)
* Broadway Big Shot (1942)
* Lucky Ghost (1942)
* Professor Creeps (1942)
* The Panther's Claw (1942)
* Men of San Quentin (1942)
* Gallant Lady (1942)
* One Thrilling Night (1942)
* Phantom Killer (1942)
* Foreign Agent (1942)
* The Living Ghost (1942)
* The Ape Man (1943)
* Clancy Street Boys (1943)
* Spotlight Scandals (1943)
* Ghosts on the Loose (1943)
* Here Comes Kelly (1943)
* Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943)
* Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943)
* What a Man! (1944)
* Voodoo Man (1944)
* Hot Rhythm (1944)
* Detective Kitty O'Day (1944)
* Follow the Leader (1944)
* Leave It to the Irish (1944)
* Oh, What a Night (1944)
* Shadow of Suspicion (1944)
* Bowery Champs (1944)
* Crazy Knights (1944)
* Mom and Dad (1945)
* Adventures of Kitty O'Day (1945)
* Fashion Model (1945)
* Blonde Ransom (1945)
* Swingin' on a Rainbow (1945)
* Come Out Fighting (1945)
* Black Market Babies (1945)
* Girl on the Spot (1946)
* The Face of Marble (1946)
* One Exciting Week (1946)
* Don't Gamble with Strangers (1946)
* Below the Deadline (1946)
* Spook Busters (1946)
* Mr. Hex (1946)
* Philo Vance Returns (1947)
* Hard Boiled Mahoney (1947)
* Too Many Winners (1947)
* Killer at Large (1947)
* Gas House Kids Go West (1947)
* News Hounds (1947)
* Bowery Buckaroos (1947)
* The Chinese Ring (1947)
* Angels' Alley (1947)
* Jinx Money (1948)
* Shanghai Chest (1948)
* The Golden Eye (1948)
* Smugglers' Cove (1948)
* Incident (1948)
* Kidnapped (1948)
* Jiggs and Maggie in Court (1948)
* The Feathered Serpent (1948)
* The Lawton Story (1949)
* Tuna Clipper (1949)
* Forgotten Women (1949)
* Trail of the Yukon (1949)
* Jiggs and Maggie in Jackpot Jitters (1949)
* Tough Assignment (1949)

1950s-60s|

* Blue Grass of Kentucky (1950)
* Blonde Dynamite (1950)
* Jiggs and Maggie Out West (1950)
* Lucky Losers (1950)
* County Fair (1950)
* Second Chance (1950)
* Blues Busters (1950)
* A Wonderful Life (1951)
* Bowery Battalion (1951)
* Cuban Fireball (1951)
* Ghost Chasers (1951)
* Let's Go Navy! (1951)
* Havana Rose (1951)
* Crazy Over Horses (1951)
* Rodeo (1952)
* Hold That Line (1952)
* Jet Job (1952)
* Here Come the Marines (1952)
* The Rose Bowl Story (1952)
* Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)
* Feudin' Fools (1952)
* No Holds Barred (1952)
* Jalopy (1953)
* Born to the Saddle (1953)
* Roar of the Crowd (1953)
* Murder Without Tears (1953)
* Yukon Vengeance (1954)
* Paris Playboys (1954)
* Pride of the Blue Grass (1954)
* High Society (1955)
* Jail Busters (1955)
* Westward Ho the Wagons! (1956)
* Up in Smoke (1957)
* In the Money (1958)
* Ten Who Dared (1960)
* Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966)
* Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)

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